Wedding Bells

Groom Shopping

Help your mister find the perfect attire for the big day by giving him the lowdown on what to look for. By Janice Meredith Wismer

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Regardless of whether your groom-to-be wears suits for every working day or only for funerals, when it comes to choosing what to wear at the altar, the task can be as nerve-wracking as picking your dress. Looking like a serious gentleman requires fashion preparation and research. Here’s the lowdown on what to expect when looking for formalwear; vital information that will make his choice—OK, your choice—a perfect fit.

How Can You Help?
As for where you come in, you need to let him in on the big details of your day. He needs to know the time, style and location of the wedding to choose his gear accordingly. Divulging even a few particulars about your dream dress can be beneficial. For example, if your gown features a full chiffon ball skirt and beaded bodice for an evening ceremony, he should not even consider a grey morning coat, but stick with a classic peak collar tuxedo with a bow tie, or tie and white shirt. 

Shopping 101
Now that you’ve enlightened him about what to shop for, he needs to know where to find it. The only way he will end up with the perfect tux is if he shops at a formalwear store stocking quality lines. As with all wedding planning, referrals are the best form of advertising. He needs to go where he’s either been a client before, or where his buddies on the hockey team have advised him to frequent.
Reminder: A jacket should feel comfortable across the shoulders and never constricting. He should be able to sit, stand and dance the night away.

Finding The One
Once he’s found the perfect tuxedo, he should reserve right away, tuxes should be reserved at least three months in advance. A deposit is required to secure the rental. At the time of the rental deposit, inquire about any package deals for the groomsmen, who should also rent from the same shop to ensure the style and colour are consistent.
If your lifestyle is such that he might need to don a tuxedo more than once in his life, he may want to consider purchasing one. Key points for this big buy are quality and style. Quality is important because the tux will need to withstand wear and tear over the years and repeated trips to the dry-cleaners. Shop for a timeless style so your suit won’t be dated in five years’ time. Clean, simple and classic are words to describe a tux that will be as hip today as it will be in 20 years.

Accessorizing
Once he’s decided on the threads, he needs great finishing touches to pull his look together. For us girls, it is all about the shoes and the jewellery, and the same goes for guys. First the shoes—ones that fit properly and are good-looking are a must, so do not let him convince you it’s cool to wear his everyday runners. As for the accessories, aside from the shiny new wedding band he’ll sport on the big day, cuff links are a must.
The most important thing for your guy to remember when choosing his wedding wear is that he’s comfortable and feels fabulous in his gear. Remember, you don’t look good if you don’t feel good!